>> announcer: welcome to the "wendy's postgame report." here now, bob costas. the redskins ride a seven-game winning streak into the playoffs, where they will host seattle next week. the stars of the game, rg3, threw only 18 times for exactly

100 yards, completing nine, but he did rush six times for 63 and a touchdown. what a night for morris, 33 carries, an even 200 yards and three tds. deangelo hall did not have an interception, but for most of the game, until dez bryant went out with an injury, he had him single covered and he held him to just four catches. so, that trio from the winning redskins are on the field with michele. >> michele: robert, you guys were 3-6. you've won seven straight and now the nfc east division title. what has been behind this streak? >> you know, it's just a mindset change. when you've got guys like this guy right here, pierre garcon, deangelo hall, all these guys coming to work every day, putting it on the line because we knew we couldn't afford to lose one game and we made sure we didn't. >> michele: on a night when you had 100 yards passing, this guy over here you alluded to, alfred morris, has 200 yards on the ground, three touchdowns. what does it mean to have a

teammate who can pick up the load the way he did? >> i mean, it's awesome! if teams are going to try to take me away, he makes them pay every time, without a doubt, and it's only because of our offensive line. so, i can't go without mentioning those guys. they fight and claw so me and this guy can get all the glory. >> michele: your knee looked a little bit like it was giving you some troubles out there. as you get ready to have seattle come in here and play you next week, how do you think that knee's going to respond to what you went through tonight? >> my knee was a lot better tonight than it was last week, so i'll be ready for seattle. whatever coach needs me to do, i'll be able to do it. hey, touchdowns don't hurt. >> michele: robert, congratulations. >> thank you, thank you. >> michele: let's turn to alfred morris here. what does it mean to you to break the team's all-time, single-season rushing record on a night when you also win the division? >> it's a great feeling. i mean, to be honest, that was never my goal to come out here and break a record. that was always getting that postseason. but i mean, just coming from where i came from, when no one

expected nothing of you and to do this at this level on this stage, it's an honor, you know, and it's just a great feeling. i'm just thankful to be here. >> michele: the man whose record you broke, clinton portis was on hand to watch. and you said your dreams are coming true. on a night like this, when you won the division and you had that kind of performance, how does this compare to your dreams? >> i shattered them. you know, i could never imagine coming here in my rookie year and doing what i've been able to do, you know. it's just, it's such a humbling experience. and like i said, i'm just thankful to be here and i mean, it's like -- it's better than my wildest dreams, you know, so i'm thankful. >> michele: congratulations. >> thank you so much. >> michele: all right, let's turn to deangelo hall, who coming into this game had the tough task of being on dez bryant all night long. and you told me earlier, if we win this game, it's because of me, if we lose this game, it's because of me. what did you do to dez bryant? >> i tried to be as physical against him as possible, tried to play up on the line against him. he made some great catches in

the beginning of the game, but we go into the huddle at halftime and make adjustments and coach just told me to keep going out there hard. >> michele: you've been here some pretty lean years, then two rookies show up, the guys we just talked to, and things turn around. what do you make of these? >> these aren't ordinary rookies. their attitude when they first stepped in, it wasn't about them, it was for the team pf. for a guy who's had a trophy, coming in here so humble. from day one, he came in here working. that's why he has that seal on his chest. he came in here working, he earned it, he deserves it. i told him, i'm so proud of you, but we have a long way to go. >> michele: it starts next week with seattle coming here. they've been on a scoring spree, 170 points over their last four games. what do you do with them? >> they run an offense a little like us, so it's going to be tough, but i've got all the faith in our guys. we'll come out here, game plan, you know, fight them hard. you know, they're a tough-nosed defense, tough-nosed offense, they love to run the ball. you know, it's kind of like

playing ourselves. they've got playmakers on the outside, but you know, they definitely try to run the ball, so we're going to have to be as physical with them as possible. >> michele: congratulations on the win, deangelo. >> i appreciate it. >> michele: bob? >> the criticism will be heavy for dallas and continuing through the week, but we feel for tony romo, 20 of 37 tonight, a couple touchdowns, three interceptions, but he's now lost six out of seven elimination games in win or go home situations. 0-3 in the regular season to get in, 1-3 in the playoffs, and there's no denying that statistic. the playoffs are now set. in the nfc, the falcons and the 49ers have the byes. and in the wild card matchups, minnesota travels to green bay saturday night on nbc while seattle will play at washington next sunday at 4:30 eastern. that game will be seen on fox. let's bring in tony dungy now. tony, what was the key for

washington tonight? >> well, bob, i actually picked dallas in the pregame show because i didn't think robert griffin would be 100%. but for the redskins, i thought cris collinsworth hit the nail right on the head. jim haslett, their defensive coordinator, did a great job. he blitzed all night long, and dallas just did not handle it. it started out with the first third down pass where we get an interception and then it went all the way through the game until the big play at the end when tony romo threw another interception against the blitz, and that defense, they had confidence to put deangelo hall one on one on dez bryant and just blitz, and it really paid off for them. >> okay, coach, let's look ahead to the packers and the vikings. who do you like in that game in green bay? >> well, i like green bay, but for really one reason, and that's putting pressure on christian ponder. adrian peterson's going to be great. he's going to make yards. and also, we know that aaron rodgers is going to put up

points and have big numbers. but christian ponder has to come up big. he's got to do it on the road. and the last time they were in green bay, he threw a couple big interceptions that turned the game around. he's going to have to play well under the playoff pressure. i think you have to like aaron rodgers and the packers in that game. >> all right, on to the afc. the broncos have home field. the patriots also have a bye. surging cincinnati travels to houston in the early game on saturday with coverage beginning at 4:00 eastern here on nbc. the colts will head to baltimore to face the ravens on sunday at 1:00 eastern time on cbs. so, tony, what's your overview of the afc? >> well, it really is setting up for a new england/denver championship game, and i think it's going to be great with tom brady playing against peyton manning. that's the way i kind of see the whole thing playing out. but i'm excited about our game on saturday night. we're going to have houston and

cincinnati. and matt schaub, the pressure is on him. houston was 11-1 at one point. schaub has to really start playing well for them to have a chance. first of all, they've got to protect him better than they did today, but he has got to step up in a big game and make some big plays. this month of december has not been great. houston can still turn it around, but i think it all falls on matt schaub and how he plays on saturday. >> and of course, now they've given up, ultimately, home field advantage. they might have it at some point, but not all the way through. and like you say, can you imagine that there might be a little bit of interest in brady versus manning in denver in an afc championship game, if it turns out that way? just a little bit of interest? let's turn now to -- >> absolutely i'll be watching it. >> yeah, you'll be watching. we all will. let's turn to mike florio, "pro football talk." mike, take us through the day's biggest injuries. >> last week the falcons locked up the number one seed in the nfc. they decided to play their starters anyway in week 17, and two of their starters suffered

injuries on sunday. defensive end john abraham in the fourth quarter sprained an ankle, mri on monday. i'm told it's not currently believed to be serious. in the first quarter of the same game, deunta robinson suffered a head injury. they have not yet applied the concussion level to dunta robinson. the coach will update his condition on monday. for the vikings, quarterback antoine winfield suffered a fractured hand last week, tried to play with it this week, aggravated it in the first half, left and did not return. >> all right, mike, thanks. folks, you can tune in to "pro football talk" every weekday at 5:00 p.m. on the nbc sports network, presented by chevrolet. and a reminder to catch "the dan patrick show" weekdays from 9:00 until noon eastern. washington defeats dallas, and in the process, washington wins the nfc east. al and cris back to wrap it up after this. what'd you get? louis is savin' a few bucks. same here... wendy's. mm-mm-mm!

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collinsworth. >> al: regular season is over. great finish to it. we have cincinnati going to houston on nbc saturday and then saturday night we go to lambeau field, where the packers who could have won today's game and had the bye, instead now have to beat the minnesota vikings, and perhaps you've heard of adrian peterson coming out of the minnesota backfield. all he's done this year, 210 yards and then 199 against the packers. >> cris: and you have to be impressed with what the vikings did. they went to houston, won a game they had to win there, and came back, knocked off the packers, a game they had to win there. and we have seen adrian peterson in two games against the green bay packers simply light it up. so, the matchup, for whatever reason, is beginning to work for the vikings. and christian ponder is finally starting to make some plays with the passing game. you would anticipate all the one on one coverage because of peterson. now he's taking advantage of it. >> al: the vikings would go to atlanta if they win and green bay would have to go to san

francisco if they win. >> al: and the packers would have to be sick because they had an opportunity to have next week off. instead, we'll be happy to see them and a little trip to lambeau to finish up for us. >> al: who knows what the weather will be? close the roof, right? >> cris: absolutely. >> al: there is rg3 in the locker room, seven games to win to end the season. we'll talk to you on saturday. until then, al michaels, cris collinsworth, michele tafoya, our entire crew. a lot of yeoman work through the season. the end of the season with the redskins winning. we'll see you on wild card saturday. goodnight.

news4 at 11:00 starts now. playoff bound. the washington redskins, champions of the nfc east tonight after running over the dallas cowboys at fedex field. a good game for rg-3. but it was alfred morris that stole the show tonight. good evening, everyone. the redskins-cowboys game came down to the final minutes. it's go over to dan hellie. who could have predicted this at the start of the year, dan? >> reporter: i don't think

anybody could have. although we did predict it a couple of weeks ago, because the skins have been red-hot lately. black in the playoffs for the first time since 2007. just the fourth playoff experience in 20 years. and their first division title since 1999. they ran all over the cowboys today, literally and figuratively. this was the man who stole the show, alfred morris entered the game needing 104 yards to break clinton portis' single season rushing record. second quarter, cowboys up 7-06789 morris bounces to the outside and he's got nobody in front of him here. 17-yard touch, but the rookie just getting started. to the fourth quarter, skins lead 14-10. the pitch to morris. he's weaving his way through the defense. great vision for the kid. finishes with a career high 200 yards in the game, smashes portis' record. skins up 21-10.

late in the fourth, cowboys coming back. down by three. romo feeling the pressure. passes to murray. he tried to pass. instead, he was picked off by rob jackson. redskins win it 28-18 and capture that elusive nfc east title. so this was the championship game for the division. and the redskins come out victors. you could see trent williams there, their pro bowl left tackle, and he's joining me live ent, this has been one wild ride that i don't think anybody could have predicted in training camp. what is the feeling like now to know that you're headed to the playoffs as division champions? >> this feeling right here can't be explained. this season was filled with ups and downs. we got criticized so much. we had a slow start. very young team, and we all dedicated ourselves to each other and said we were going to win seven straight. we went out there and did it. it wasn't easy or pretty, but we got it done. >> now you guys have to play the

seahawks here at fedex field next week. my guess is you could be riding the back of your rookie running back alfred morris. 200 yards tonight on 33 carries. three touchdowns. what does this say not only about your running back but your offensive line, as well? >> you know, we played well all subpoena offensive line wise, but alfred deserves a lot of the credit. he runs through tacklers and he won't be denied. any time you get that many yards, you've got to give the running back a lot of credit. he's a special talent and whether be for a long time. >> 1600 yards for the rookie running back. but he does make the nfl minimum. so i don't think trent and the offensive line are going to hold him to buying any gifts for them. so we'll see you then coming up. >> thanks, dan. you can almost hear the cheers from fedex field to over here in

northwest washington tonight. it's been more than 22500 days since the skins have been to the playoffs. >> reporter: you said you could hear the cheers? well, there they are. there they are. the redskins, the last game of the nfl regular season, that's what you call saving the best for last. these people are live. let's take a look at some of the fans coming out of fedex field immediately following the game. i mean, think about this team. when this team was 3-6, to end the season with seven straight wins, who knew, who thought, who believed, who cares? the real question, who's next? and of course, the answer is the seattle seahawks, right back here next weekend. >> it's time, and we knew we was going to do it. we got a quarterback, we got a running back. we got a team and we're in the playoffs, baby. >> reporter: seattle is coming

to town. they've got a good rookie quarterback, too. >> they do. but not worried about that. >> reporter: that last fan, his name, jason campbell. playoff bound. it's crazy. jim, i'll see you back at the station, if i can make it. >> keith, thanks. more high lights coming up from tonight's game and stick around for the postgame reaction. "redskins final" is up next after news4 at 11:00. secretary of state hillary clinton is in the hospital tonight, being treated for a blood clot. according to a statement from her office, clinton's doctors say the clock stems from a concussion she suffered earlier this month at her home in washington. clinton fell as she was recovering from a stomach virus

that left her dehydrated. secretary clinton will stay at new york presbyterian hospital for at least the next 48 hours for observation. just hours away from the fiscal cliff deadline and still no deal. lawmakers called it a day around 7:30 tonight and will be back tomorrow. they're stuck on the income threshold for higher taxes and the taxevel on large estates. vice president joe biden has taken over as lead negotiator for democrats and expected to keep working with mitch mcconnell. steve handelsman explains why some lawmakers might prefer to go over the cliff. >> reporter: the night before the fiscal cliff. >> the senate stands in recess. >> reporter: the senate gave until tomorrow. >> there still time left to reach an agreement. >> reporter: house lawmakers headed home, dropping a command to cut social security and hope

the senate sends them a deal with minimal tax hikes on the rich. >> i'm still optimistic that we can get this averted before the final hour here tomorrow. >> reporter: when the clock strikes 2013, taxes go up on most americans. huge defense cuts kick in, which some republicans claim barack obama favors. >> it's obvious the president wants us to go over the fiscal cliff. >> reporter: on "meet the press," president obama blamed republicans. >> they say their biggest priority is dealing with the deficit, but the way they're behaving is their only priority is making sure taxes don't go up on the rich. >> reporter: the senate minority leader says -- >> i'm willing to get this done. but i need a dance partner. >> reporter: enter vice president joe biden, called by mcconnell. can the senate veteran help

congress stumble to a deal on the last day? if not, and we do go off the cliff, congress could be more likely to make a deal and quickly, because then lawmakers could claim they voted to cut middle class taxes. i'm steve handlesman, news4, capitol hill. >> if nothing else, it looks like there will be a deal to keep the price of milk from skyrocketing. leaders have agreed to a one-year ex-tense of the 2008 farm bill that expired in october. the deal will avert a spike in milk prices to as much as $8 a gallon. but it has to come to a vote in the house and senate tomorrow. a new report tonight further criticizes the state department for its response to the u.s. consulate attack in libya. nbc news s obtained an advance copy of the investigation. in it, it concludes that bad security allowed militants to walk right into the compound. the report criticizes the state department for failing to

sufficiently respond to requests for additional security. the full report will be released tomorrow. gusty winds made for a very chilly day here in washington, and they also caused some damage. winds were strong enough to knock over this tree on split oak drive in bethesda. things have calmed down after that windy start, but it's another cold night out there. here's chief meteorologist doug camera. >> i think tonight will be the coldest night we have seen so far this winter as temperatures are in the 20s inside the metro area. some of you will wake up to temperatures in the teens. currently at 32 degrees. winds out of the west at 8 miles per hour. take a look at that windchill. 25 degrees right now. it is a very chilly evening. take a look at the wind chills around the region. 19 currently in manassas.

and 17 in gaithersburg. not a lot going on as far as the satellite and radar are concerned. but there is one little storm, that coming just in time for new year's day. an emotional day at battlefield high school in haymarket. xavier springfellow played football at battlefield and was a rising star at a local college. darcy spencer talked to his girlfriend who is trying to cope with the loss. >> reporter: sarah is the girlfriend of murder victim xavier stringfellow. she can barely speak as she talks about her high school sweet heart who was found murdered friday night. >> i knew him for ten years and we dated the last three. he was my best friend. >> reporter: did you have plans to get married? >> yes, we were engaged this summer. >> reporter: oliver was among the dozens who came to a vigil

in memory of the 19-year-old sunday afternoon. he was a star football player at haymarket battlefield high school. >> i don't know what to do. it's unbelievable. >> reporter: he was found stabbed to death in a crashed van in vienna friday night. this man of gainesville was arrested less than 24 hours later. police say stringfellow and the other did not know each other but agreed to meet friday. many are still trying to make sense of the murder. >> xavier was a great kid and this leaves a hole in our hearts. we've lost someone that's had a huge impact, very important to the battlefield family. >> reporter: he was a sophomore in college in virginia where he was recruited to play on the football team. >> he was just such a kind

hearted person. he was funny. he was just a great all around perp. someone that you're proud to call your friend and teammate. >> reporter: stringfellow's uniformed number here was 53. now there's talk of retiring that number. darcy spencer, news4. a man is dead after a shooting in southeast washington. shortly after midnight, police got a call about gunshots in the 3400 block of crawford place. when they got there, they found 23-year-old angelo payne shot dead. police are offering a $25,000 reward for information. this time tomorrow, about 1 million people will be crowded into times square in new york. but the ball already dropped today. organizers lit and dropped the ball to ensure a seamless new year's eve celebration. the crowd will be monitored by

thousands of police officers, canine units and counterterrorism teams. the new york city police commissioner says tomorrow night, times square will be the safest place in the world. much more on the redskins' win over the cowboys coming up. plus, are you looking for a little luck in the new year? we'll take you to one market that has a lot to offer. plus, 150 years since a proclamation that changed the course of american history. now that history is on display in the district. and honoring a fallen firefighter in upstate new york. how fellow first responders have helped out on a difficult weekend.

♪ the sound of bagpipes filling the air in upstate new york as a volunteer firefighter was laid to rest. michael chiapperini was one of two firefighters killed in that ambush on christmas eve. the gunman set his house on fire and shot at the firefighters when they responded. first responders from across new york state volunteered for shifts in webster today so local authorities to go to that funeral. we know the identity of the woman killed in a townhouse fire in green belt. officials say 86-year-old betty starry died in the fire. two others were injured trying to get out. investigators say the fire broke out inside a up to house on laurel hill road. they're still trying to figure out what caused it. police in arizona and the fbi are looking for the man who kidnapped a woman and forced her to help him with a bank robbery.

police say someone abducted a bank employee friday morning, and on saturday morning took her to the bank with an explosive around her neck. the device turned out to be a fake and the suspect got away. the national archives commemorating the 150th anniversary of one of the country's most important documents. the emancipation proclamation went on display today. president lincoln issued the proclamation during the civil war, freeing all slaves in states rebelling against the union. historians consider the proclamation a steppingstone to ratification of the 13th amendment which outlawed slavery. visitors lined up for a glimpse of the original document. >> very interesting experience. it's a very important document. >> it will be